The second group said the chairman and his group were "imposters" and "mad men" and had no right to call off the strike or declare it illegal.

They also accused them of having pocketed money from the government so as to undermine the nurses' ambitions.

"If they are officials of the union, where were they on Monday? Why have nurses not listened to them. The position of the union is, nurses are on strike until the deal is agreed on and signed," said a visibly angry Ngwasi.